a pathologist's report gives the results of the examination of tissue removed from a patient.

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Reading a Pathology Report | Cancer.Net

11 hours ago A pathology report is a document that contains the diagnosis determined by examining cells and tissues under a microscope. The report may also contain information about the size, shape, … >> Go To The Portal


A pathology report is a medical document written by a pathologist. A pathologist is a doctor who diagnoses disease by: The report gives a diagnosis based on the pathologist’s examination of a sample of tissue taken from the patient’s tumor. This sample of tissue, called a specimen, is removed during a biopsy.

A pathologist's Report gives the results of the examination of tissue removed from a patient. The results from lab and X-rays are given in a Diagnostic Report. The informed Consent must be signed by a patient voluntarily. A psychiatric hospital is an example of an Ambulatory Care Hospital.

Full Answer

What happens in a pathology report?

After identifying the tissue as cancerous, the pathologist may perform additional tests to get more information about the tumor that cannot be determined by looking at the tissue with routine stains, such as hematoxylin and eosin (also known as H&E), under a microscope ( 2 ). The pathology report will include the results of these tests.

What does a pathologist do with a tissue sample?

Once a tissue sample is obtained, the pathologist will examine the tissue sample under the microscope in order to determine if it contains normal, pre-cancerous or cancerous cells. The pathologist then writes a pathology report summarizing his or her findings.

Why should the pathologist review prior pathology material before examining new tissue?

If you have had more than one operation with tissue removed, the pathologist should review your prior pathology material before examining your newest tissue. This prevents mistakes being made in your diagnosis and staging.

What does a pathologist do?

A pathologist is a doctor who does this examination and writes the pathology report. Pathology reports play an important role in cancer diagnosis and staging (describing the extent of cancer within the body, especially whether it has spread), which helps determine treatment options.

Are different pronunciations of medical terms are acceptable?

Different pronunciations of medical terms are acceptable. Different spellings of medical terms are acceptable. Terms ending in -a are pluralized by simply adding an e to the end of the term. Terms ending in -um are pluralized by simply adding an s to the end of the term.

What does a combining form consist of?

The combination of a word root and a vowel is known as a COMBINING FORM.

Do all medical terms must have a prefix?

As was discussed above, a medical term must have at least one root, but does not have to have a prefix and/or a suffix. An example of this is the term "sternocleidomastoid," which is a muscle that has attachments at the sternum, the clavicle, and the mastoid.

Does a combining form consists of a word root and a vowel?

A combining form consists of a word root and combining vowel. The prefix often indicates the body system or organ being discussed. Combining vowels make medical terms easier to pronounce. Prefixes are placed before a word root.

Why are combining forms used?

A prefix can be used to modify the meaning of a word. The combining vowel is a word part, usually an o, and is used to ease pronunciation of the medical term. A combining vowel is used to connect two word roots and to connect a word root and a suffix.

What is a combining form used for?

A combining form is a word that is used, or used with a particular meaning, only when joined to another word. For example, '-legged' as in 'four-legged' and '-fold' as in 'fivefold' are combining forms.

What is a medical prefix?

Medical terminology is composed of a prefix, root word, and suffix: Prefix: A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. Pre means "before." Prefixes may also indicate a location, number, or time.

What is medical terminology quizlet?

Medical terminology is the study of terms that are used in the art of science and medicine.. Fundamental Elements. The fundamental elements in medical terminology are the component parts used to build medical words.

What are common medical prefixes?

Common PrefixesPREFIXMEANINGEXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMSA-, An-Without; LackingAnemiaAndr/o-MaleAndrogenAnti-AgainstAnticholinergic drugsAuto-SelfAutocrine22 more rows

When a suffix that begins with a vowel is added the combining form rather than the word root precedes the suffix?

When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel, the CF, rather than the word root, precedes the suffix. Most medical words have Greek or Spanish origins. The four elements used to form medical words are word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms. Gastroenterologist is an example of a compound word.

When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel the combining form?

When combining a combining form with a suffix that begins with a vowel you drop the combining form vowel. A prefix goes at the beginning of the word and no combining form vowel is used.

Which word element is created when a word root is combined with a vowel?

combining formWhen you take a word root and add a vowel it becomes a combining form. This vowel is usually an ―o‖, and it is called a combining vowel. - cyst/o - therm/o The combining vowel is used before suffixes that begin with a consonant and before another word root.

What is a pathology report?

A pathology report is a document that contains the diagnosis determined by examining cells and tissues under a microscope. The report may also cont...

How is tissue obtained for examination by the pathologist?

In most cases, a doctor needs to do a biopsy or surgery to remove cells or tissues for examination under a microscope. Some common ways a biopsy ca...

How is tissue processed after a biopsy or surgery? What is a frozen section?

The tissue removed during a biopsy or surgery must be cut into thin sections, placed on slides, and stained with dyes before it can be examined und...

How long after the tissue sample is taken will the pathology report be ready?

The pathologist sends a pathology report to the doctor within 10 days after the biopsy or surgery is performed. Pathology reports are written in te...

What information does a pathology report usually include?

The pathology report may include the following information ( 1 ): Patient information: Name, birth date, biopsy date Gross description: Color, weig...

What might the pathology report say about the physical and chemical characteristics of the tissue?

After identifying the tissue as cancerous, the pathologist may perform additional tests to get more information about the tumor that cannot be dete...

What information about the genetics of the cells might be included in the pathology report?

Cytogenetics uses tissue culture and specialized techniques to provide genetic information about cells, particularly genetic alterations. Some gene...

Can individuals get a second opinion about their pathology results?

Although most cancers can be easily diagnosed, sometimes patients or their doctors may want to get a second opinion about the pathology results ( 1...

What research is being done to improve the diagnosis of cancer?

NCI, a component of the National Institutes of Health, is sponsoring clinical trials that are designed to improve the accuracy and specificity of c...

What is a pathology report?

A pathology report is a document that contains the diagnosis determined by examining cells and tissues under a microscope. The report may also contain information about the size, shape, and appearance of a specimen as it looks to the naked eye. This information is known as the gross description.

How long does it take for a pathologist to send a report?

The pathologist sends a pathology report to the doctor within 10 days after the biopsy or surgery is performed. Pathology reports are written in technical medical language. Patients may want to ask their doctors to give them a copy of the pathology report and to explain the report to them. Patients also may wish to keep a copy ...

What is the procedure to cut tissue into thin sections?

The tissue removed during a biopsy or surgery must be cut into thin sections, placed on slides, and stained with dyes before it can be examined under a microscope. Two methods are used to make the tissue firm enough to cut into thin sections: frozen sections and paraffin-embedded (permanent) sections.

What is an IHC report?

For example, the pathology report may include information obtained from immunochemical stains (IHC). IHC uses antibodies to identify specific antigens on the surface of cancer cells. IHC can often be used to: Determine where the cancer started.

How are tissue samples prepared?

All tissue samples are prepared as permanent sections, but sometimes frozen sections are also prepared. Permanent sections are prepared by placing the tissue in fixative (usually formalin) to preserve the tissue, processing it through additional solutions, and then placing it in paraffin wax.

What is the procedure to remove tissue under a microscope?

In most cases, a doctor needs to do a biopsy or surgery to remove cells or tissues for examination under a microscope. Some common ways a biopsy can be done are as follows: A needle is used to withdraw tissue or fluid.

What is the role of a pathologist in cancer diagnosis?

A pathologist is a doctor who does this examination and writes the pathology report. Pathology reports play an important role in cancer diagnosis and staging (describing the extent of cancer within the body, especially whether it has spread), which helps determine treatment options.

What is a pathology report?

A pathology report is a medical report about a piece of tissue, blood, or body organ that has been removed from your body. The specimen is analyzed by a pathologist, who then writes up a report for the medical provider who has either ordered the report or performed the procedure.

Why is it important to keep a pathology report?

Copies of any pathology reports are very important to keep, as your diagnosis and treatment are often based on them. Further, understanding the report will help you and your medical provider (and any future medical providers) better understand your condition.

What is the bottom line of a pathologist's diagnosis?

A detailed description of what the pathologist sees during microscopic exam of the specimen. The final diagnosis, which is the "bottom line" of the testing process. Your medical provider relies on the final diagnosis to help choose the best treatment choices. The name and signature of the pathologist, as well as the name and address ...

What is a pathology report?

A pathology report is a written medical record of a tissue diagnosis. A tissue diagnosis is the diagnosis made when a piece of tissue is examined by a pathologist, a doctor who is trained to examine tissue. He or she interprets the findings in tissue and makes a diagnosis.

How do pathologists examine tissue?

First, the pathologist examines the tissue with his/her eyes and fingers to find abnormalities. If the piece of tissue is large, the pathologist will cut it into many slices so s/he can find small lesions that may be hidden in the tissue.

What is tissue removed for diagnosis?

Tissue removed for pathologic diagnosis fall into two general categories: Tissue that is removed to make a diagnosis but not to treat a lesion is called a biopsy . Biopsies can be very small pieces of tissue such as those obtained with a needle or they can be larger with stitches needed to close the hole left from removing the tissue. Tissue removed to treat a lesion is called a resection. Usually resections are large pieces of tissue, sometimes a whole body part such as a stomach, large bowel or a breast. Sometimes a piece of tissue is removed both to make a diagnosis and to treat the lesion. A breast lumpectomy may both remove and diagnose a lesion causing a mass.

What is a pathologist?

Pathologists are trained to examine tissue that may be as small as a dozen cells. Usually tissue is removed by a surgeon, a radiologist or another physician and sent to pathology for examination. Tissue can be cells taken by fine needle aspiration, a small core needle biopsy, a larger piece of tissue that is meant to remove a lesion or a very large piece of tissue that is a whole organ such as a whole breast or a lung.

Why is a core needle biopsy called a core?

The tissue is called a core because it is the size and shape of the inside of the needle used to obtain the tissue.

How are biopsy specimens obtained?

Biopsies are obtained by special cutting pinchers and removed through the fiberoptic scope. Incisional biopsy: This is a tissue sample in which a part of a lesion is removed by a surgeon. The lesion is well defined and there is a high clinical suspicion that the lesion is cancer. The tissue is taken only to establish a diagnosis ...

Why do we remove large tissue samples?

Again some large tissue samples are removed both to establish a diagnosis and to treat and stage a cancer. These larger tissue samples require that the tissue be examined to detect the lesion, then to stage a lesion, and then to determine whether the lesion is completely removed.

What is the purpose of a pathologist's report?

The pathologist then writes a pathology report summarizing his or her findings.

Who writes pathology reports?

Although pathology reports are written by physicians for physicians, you may be able to decipher some of the medical jargon provided by the report. The structure and information provided in your pathology report may vary, but the following sections are usually included.

What is the procedure to remove tissue from a cancer patient?

Most cancer patients will undergo a biopsy or other procedure to remove a sample of tissue for examination by a pathologist in order to diagnose their disease. There are a variety of methods used to obtain samples, including a typical biopsy, fine needle aspiration, or a biopsy with the use of an endoscope.

What is tissue fixed?

Once a tissue sample is obtained, it is then “fixed”, meaning it is treated in a way that stops degradation and prevents the cells in the sample from changing characteristics. Next, the sample is stained so that the pathologist can see the cell structure under a microscope and determine whether the cells are exhibiting cancerous characteristics.

What is a pathologist?

A pathologist is a physician specializing in the diagnosis of disease based on examination of tissues and fluids removed from the body. Upon examination, the pathologist determines if the tissue sample contains normal, pre-cancerous or cancerous cells and then writes a report with his or her findings.

What is a specimen section?

Specimen: The specimen section describes the origin of the tissue sample (s).

Why do doctors use liquid biopsies?

The method used to gain a tissue sample depends on the type of mass and location in the body. Doctors are increasingly using "liquid" biopsies to evaluate cancer which are easily collected from the blood and are non-invasive. Liquid biopsies are replacing the need to collect tissue in many situations.